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A Chinese court sentenced a Japanese pharmaceutical company executive to three and a half years in prison on espionage charges Wednesday, further straining diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The unnamed defendant, an employee of Japanese drugmaker Astellas Pharma, was convicted of "espionage activities" following a trial in Beijing, according to Kenji Kanasugi, Japan's ambassador to China.
The businessman was initially detained in March 2023 and formally arrested seven months later in October.
He had worked in China for approximately two decades and previously served as a senior executive at a prominent Japanese business organization in the country, according to reports.
"It is extremely regrettable that such a guilty verdict was issued," Kanasugi told Japanese media following the court proceedings.
Japan's embassy in Beijing issued a statement expressing disappointment with the verdict and renewing calls for the release of detained Japanese nationals.
The embassy urged China "to ensure their legitimate rights and humane treatment during detention and to improve the transparency of the judicial process."
According to Kyodo News Agency, the convicted executive was preparing to return to Japan when he was suddenly detained last year.
The case adds to mounting tensions between Tokyo and Beijing over the treatment of Japanese nationals in Chinese custody.
Five Japanese citizens, including the Astellas executive, are currently detained or serving prison sentences in China, public broadcaster NHK reported.
Tokyo has repeatedly called on Beijing to release the detained Japanese nationals, with Wednesday's conviction likely to complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts to improve bilateral ties.
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